Vinblastine VS. nitrogen mustard therapy of Hodgkin's disease

• Published in: Cancer 1968-08, Vol.22 (2), p.473-479
• Main Authors: Ezdinli, Ediz Z., Stutzman, Leon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hodgkin Disease - drug therapy; Humans; Nitrogen Mustard Compounds - administration & dosage; Vinblastine - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(196808)22:2<473::AID-CNCR2820220227>3.0.CO;2-I

In a randomized study, nitrogen mustard therapy resulted in objective responses in 80% compared to 73% with vinblastine in 27 patients with disseminated stage III or IV Hodgkin's disease; all these patients received full courses of both drugs. Unmaintained median remission with either drug was 2.5 months from the time of maximum response. The stage of disease and type of manifestation did not influence response rates and those previously given chemotherapy responded similarly to those who had had no such therapy. Both drugs are highly effective chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and the superiority of one over the other could not be demonstrated. Nitrogen mustard given in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, for 4 days was suggestively, but not statistically, superior to 0.2 mg/kg given for 2 days. The sequence of drug administration was of importance. The response to therapy was significantly better when nitrogen mustard was given first followed by vinblastine, with an 89% response vs. a 65% response rate with the reverse order of drugs.